Beersmith 2 Calculation - Please Explain

[Buttwidget]

I'm working up a recipe in Beersmith 2, and I don't understand the reasoning behind the way it calculates hop bitterness/IBUs.

As an example, when I have a 15 minute addition and set "Use" as "Boil" it increases the IBUs calculated for my recipe, if I set it to "aroma" (leaving everything else untouched) the IBUs remain unchanged.

I guess my point is, who gives a shit what I call it (aroma or boil), I'm adding hops with 15 minutes to go in the boil, shouldn't the effect on IBUs be the same.

I'm sure there is a good reason for this, anyone know it?

~widget

[PSUHomebrewer]

Think the aroma setting is I you use a hop back or randal which won't add ibs(if any). Also check your calculation formula, that will change the additions also.

[Buttwidget]

I appreciate the response but I don' think that is correct in the context of how the calculation is used in BeerSmith. I'm not sure that I would be using a hopback for 15 minutes of the boils vs. just adding the hops directly to the wort.

The formula is handled automatically by Beersmith. Take a look at the screen I'm speaking of:



I guess the question remains, I'm adding hops with 15 minutes left in the boil, it shouldn't matter whether I call it "boil" or "aroma" the process is the same and the effects on the beer should be identical, why does Beersmith calculate like that? Is the "aroma" or "boil" selection supposed to be used differently? Are all hops added to the boil/whirlpool to be called "boil"? I'm so confused!

Thanks,

~widget

[10 SEC COMMUTER]

I think anything added to the kettle with the heat on is considered boil hop, at least by beersmith. When I've used the aroma selection its for whirlpool hops and the time you specify is listed on the recipe as steep time. I know I'm getting IBU's from my whirlpool hops but I don't think beersmith has a way of calculating them. This is one of Tasty's complaints, that there isn't real a formula out there for calculating IBU's from things like mash hopping and whirlpool hopping. I remember hearing that Matt at Firestone said they get something like 22% utilization from their whirlpool additions but I don't know the specifics.

[Buttwidget]

That's a great explanation. I'll do some experimenting and see if I can validate that, but I believe you've nailed it. I'll also see what I can find out about the other settings and share the results once I do.

Thanks for the response.

~widget

[spiderwrangler]

If you can't find the answer in the help section on BeerSmith, you might try emailing Brad.

[snoopdeig]

When you switch the setting to aroma hops, the duration you enter is considered to be the steeping time after the boil. That's why the value changes.

You can confirm this by looking at the brewing steps generated - the hops you specify as aroma will be listed after the boil under the title "Steeped Hops".

Hope this helps.

[Buttwidget]

So the question *has* been asked and then answered by Brad on the Beersmith Forums.

~widget